My Betta Won't eat

[AAJ]

I just purchased a new betta 2 days ago and housed him in nice 5 gallon all by himself. All he does is sit on the bottom and only come up for air. He doesn't seem to be interested in eating his food when I try to feed him.

What should I be doing?

AAJ

 

[Kiarra]

He's probably just going through an adjustment period. Many Bettas have a hard time adjusting to their new environment and new foods, so it takes them a little while before they'll eat or swim around a whole lot.

Keep offering him food, and offer him a variety of different foods if you can. Eventually, he will eat. It just might take him a week or more.

One thing, though, is that if there is much current in there from a filter or airstone, it may be upsetting him. Most Bettas hate currents because of those long fins...it's like wearing a big coat in a windstorm for them.

 

[AAJ]

I do have a filter in the 5 gal. It's a Whisper in tank mini (10i). It's located at one end of the 5 gal. He usually stays at the other end on the bottom. Unfortunately, the filter has no flow control. Should I shut off the filter?

Thanks for your advice.

 

[SPLiSH]

Since he's hanging around the opposite end, I would assume he doesn't like the filter. I wouldn't shut it off ... get some pantyhose and use a rubber band to fix it over the water outlet. Punch a few holes in it and this should cause the water to come out in a wide, gentler stream and not a narrow jet.

Good luck with your betta, they're great little fish and they really grow on you.

 

[yeeviabetta]

No wonder. Turn off the filter first. Let him get used to the surrounding. As you know, he never had a filter before in a pet shop and only in a cup. It will be all right if the filter didn't turn on.

 

[aznmidnite]

You can buy a valve controller and connect it from your airpump to the airline tubing, if you wish to still use the air pump at a lower level.

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